Compare towns
Madbury vs Plymouth vs Stratham vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Madbury | Plymouth | Stratham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
6,601 |
7,754 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.